Horst Kleinschmidt website
May 2025 last update
  • Home Page
  • Biographical on Horst
    • Biography
    • Childhood
    • University
    • Exile
    • Return to South Africa
    • Family events
  • Newsletters
  • Zara and Hinrich Schmelen 200th Anniversary
  • Social Commentary
  • Christian Institute
  • Gallery
    • The family tree
    • 1st Founders Zara and Hinrich Schmelen
    • 2nd Founders Hanna and Franz-Heinrich Kleinschmidt
    • Eight Kleinschmidt children
    • Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt junior
    • Gerhard Kleinschmidt
    • Wilhelm F H Kleinschmidt
    • Horst Kleinschmidt
    • Student days and meeting up in later life
    • Growing up in Johannesburg
    • Children of Horst, Immo and Heidi
    • Grandchildren of Horst and Immo
  • Ubumelwane
  • Fisheries
  • Blog
  • Events in Pictures
  • Contact
  • International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF)
  • Fransfontein
  • Jatow Family
  • The USA Kleinschmidts
  • Simon's Town, Ocean View, Gugulethu
  • Activism in the 2000s
Ghaub and Ganachaams, near Grootfontein
​In March 2018 I visited Namibia. One of my objectives was to visit Ghaub, today an attractive game lodge. A hundred years ago it was a hub of the Rhenish Mission Society in the North of Namibia. Grandfather Gerhard was assistant farm manager here, tasked to provide provisions for the Rhenish School, Theological Training Centre and Church. My father Wilhelm was born here in August 1914. I early 1915 German troops fought their last battle here before being defeated by South African Union troops. The mission station became a military field hospital. The German Governor Dr Seitz first retreated and stayed at the station only to be taken back as a prisoner of war days later. 

The Lodge has now included in its brochure a glimpse of what transpired here a century earlier. I intend to expand on the story at a later time. Read about it in English and in German:

Englisch - https://www.ghaub-namibia.com/news.html
Deutsch - https://www.ghaub-namibia.com/news-de.html

Images that connect with my father,
Wilhelm Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt's generation

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Above: Front row, second from left, Wilhelm Kleinschmidt. Probably ca 1929 at school in Swakopmund
Picture


Wilhelm Kleinschmidt, Swakop Riverbed, late 1960's

Picture
Picture

Elizabeth and husband Eduard Storm. Elizabeth was the young sister of Helmut  and Wilhelm Kleinschmidt.  

Picture
Back: Helmut Kleinschmidt, wife Mariechen, her mother Mrs Hildebrandt and Wilhelm Kleinschmidt.
Front: Alfred, Horst, Erika, Heidi and Immo, all Kleinschmidt. Place: Ivy Road,Norwood, Johannesburg, backyard of Helmut and Mary.
​Date: ca 1955
Picture
Elger is a second cousin to Wilhelm K. He is a grandson of Johannes Kleinschmidt.
Website design by Len Stoch